Use two equations in two variables to solve the following problem. A rancher raises five times as many cows as horses. If he has 204 animals (cows and horses only), how many cows does he have?
A) 170 cows
B) 190 cows
C) 210 cows
D) 180 cows
E) 140 cows

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Let the number of horses be $x$ and the number of cows be $5x$. The total number of animals is $x + 5x = 204$. Solving for $x$ gives $6x = 204$, so $x = 34$ (horses). Therefore, the number of cows is $5 \times 34 = 170$.

Use Two Equations in Two Variables to Solve the Following